UK

Twenty years ago, Bill Bryson went on a trip around Britain to celebrate the green and kindly island that had become his adopted (read more)

Twenty years ago, Bill Bryson went on a trip around Britain to celebrate the green and kindly island that had become his adopted country. The hilarious book that resulted, Notes from a Small Island, was taken to the nation's heart and became the bestselling travel book ever, and was also voted in a BBC poll the book that best represents Britain. Now, to mark the twentieth anniversary of that modern classic, Bryson makes a brand-new journey round Britain to see what has changed.

Following (but not too closely) a route he dubs the Bryson Line, from Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath, by way of places that many people never get to at all, Bryson sets out to rediscover the wondrously beautiful, magnificently eccentric, endearingly unique country that he thought he knew but doesn't altogether recognize any more. Yet, despite Britain's occasional failings and more or less eternal bewilderments, Bill Bryson is still pleased to call our rainy island home. And not just because of the cream teas, a noble history, and an extra day off at Christmas. (hide)

"Robert Burns in Time and Place" is a brand new title in the "Scotties Books" series which contain a wealth of interesting facts, (read more)

"Robert Burns in Time and Place" is a brand new title in the "Scotties Books" series which contain a wealth of interesting facts, stimulating activities, web sites and suggestions for places to visit. The year 2009 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns but studying the life and work of the poet is no longer just a celebration around his birthday, but can be embedded across the school curriculum. The book looks at Ayrshire, Scotland and the wider world as they were in his time and which shaped his experiences and his work. (hide)

Make the most of your time on Earth[trademark] with The Rough Guide to Great Britain. The Rough Guide to Great Britain is the definitive (read more)

Make the most of your time on Earth[trademark] with The Rough Guide to Great Britain. The Rough Guide to Great Britain is the definitive insider's guide to a country rich in history, heritage and culture. Discover the best of what Britain has to offer, with detailed accounts of the country's world-class attractions, from the British Museum to Edinburgh Castle, aided by crystal-clear maps and plans.

Get insider tips on Britain's vital, restless cities, from Bristol to Glasgow, and enjoy the bucolic attractions of its countryside, hiking along its walkers' trails or relaxing on one of its more spectacular beaches. We also steer you towards all the best places to stay, from boutique hotels to cool campsites, and to eat and drink, from Michelin-starred restaurants and gourmet gastropubs to budget cafes and traditional pubs, giving you clear, balanced reviews for all budgets. You'll find lavish photography and easy-to-use maps throughout the guide, too, helping you to make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to Great Britain.
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The ninth edition of the Rough Guide to Wales is the ultimate travel guide to this incredibly varied country, with stunning photography (read more)

The ninth edition of the Rough Guide to Wales is the ultimate travel guide to this incredibly varied country, with stunning photography throughout. Whether you want to trek the Pembrokeshire Coast Path or let loose at Green Man festival, have a slap-up meal in foodie Abergavenny or chug through the Snowdonia mountains on the Ffestiniog Railway, you'll find all the practical details and inspiring ideas you'll need. Spanning the length and breadth of Wales, from tiny valley towns to bustling cities, this is the most comprehensive guide to the country.

Plan your trip using our colour-coded maps and up-to-date listings on the best places to stay, eat and drink in every corner of Wales. Whether you want detailed background or a quick idea of the highlights of each region, The Rough Guide to Wales has it all. Make the most of your time on Earth[trademark] with The Rough Guide to Wales. (hide)

Have you got what it takes to tackle Radio 4's most fiendish quiz?Question: A fictional criminal psychologist, a former Conservative (read more)

Have you got what it takes to tackle Radio 4's most fiendish quiz?Question: A fictional criminal psychologist, a former Conservative minister, and the eponymous protagonist of a Peter Hedges novel, might all serve on the board alongside some big cheeses. Can you explain?*The Round Britain Quiz is the oldest broadcast quiz anywhere in the world. Created in 1947 it has built and maintained a cult following from across the generations.
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High Wycombe, or simply Wycombe, has had a long and remarkable past: the Royal military academy was founded in the town in the late (read more)

High Wycombe, or simply Wycombe, has had a long and remarkable past: the Royal military academy was founded in the town in the late eighteenth century before moving to Sandhurst; Charles I passed through on his way to the scaffold in 1649; and Benjamin Disraeli, MP for the town between 1874 and 1880, made his first political speech from a portico in the high street. His home, Hughenden Manor, was used by bomber command planners during the Second World War, and it was there that the maps for the Dambusters raid on the Ruhr dams were created. Beneath the main high street is a honeycomb network of secret tunnels, originally thought to serve some clandestine purpose but in fact used by the brewery to transport beer to the many pubs throughout Wycombe as it was easier than negotiating the crowded streets.

Nearby is the village of Penn, the ancestral home of William Penn, founder of the city of Philadelphia and from whom the state of Pennsylvania takes its name. His sons lie buried in the churchyard. Bizarrely, the same churchyard contains the graves of David Blakeley, murdered by Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain, and the infamous Soviet spy, Donald Maclean.

Pub Date:01/01/2017 (hide)

A personal tour of twenty of the UK's most beguiling houses in this much loved area of western England. Author and architectural (read more)

A personal tour of twenty of the UK's most beguiling houses in this much loved area of western England. Author and architectural historian, Jeremy Musson, and Cotswolds-based photographer Hugo Rittson Thomas, offer privileged access to twenty houses, from castles and manor houses, as well as eighteenth- and nineteenth-century mansions, revealing their history, architecture and interiors, in the company of their devoted owners. In the footsteps of artists and designers including Humphry and George Repton, and Victorian visionary, William Morris, who inspired the arts and crafts movement, and others such as Detmar Blow, Norman Jewson, Clough Williams-Ellis and Oliver Hill, we find a series of fascinating country houses of different sizes and atmospheres, which have shaped the English identity. (hide)

When you ask most people about Liverpool, you could be forgiven for thinking that the city is only famous for its maritime history, (read more)

When you ask most people about Liverpool, you could be forgiven for thinking that the city is only famous for its maritime history, its two successful football teams or for being the birthplace of The Beatles - but there is so much more to this amazing city than meets the casual eye. Secret Liverpool is a gazetteer of the lesser-known places and little forgotten corners of the city, where tantalising clues to the region's past have miraculously survived, often hidden in plain sight among newer structures. Fully illustrated throughout with photographs and maps, this guide shows you where to go to find amazing locations that span over 3,000 years of history, from the semi-fossilised footprints of Neolithic hunters on the beaches of Formby to an amazing twentieth-century car graveyard in a disused railway tunnel.

Learn also about some of Merseyside's forgotten heroes; discover a few select viewing points where you can see semi-permanent mirages over the Mersey skyline; find out about the long lost underground grotto and tunnels said to be still in existence somewhere beneath Princes Park ...and much more besides. (hide)

Over 150 stunning archive photographs and paintings illustrate this mesmerising guide to London, seen through the eyes of Arthur (read more)

Over 150 stunning archive photographs and paintings illustrate this mesmerising guide to London, seen through the eyes of Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous character. Ever since his creation, Sherlock Holmes has continued to enthral his readers and audiences: he is the world's favourite fiction detective and is indelibly linked to London. From the Hansom cabs hurtling through the city streets and thick fogs shrouding long lines of terraced houses, this was Sherlock's London.

It was a city at the nexus of a vast Empire and one of the wealthiest, largest and most populous of its day. Through early film, photography, paintings and original artifacts, the book explores the real Victorian London which was the backdrop for many of Conan Doyle's stories. Richly illustrated by the museums unrivalled collection and authoritatively written by Alex Werner, David Cannadine and other leading authorities on London, this book appeals to anyone who loves this beguiling city and wants to explore it as it was when Sherlock Holmes was brought to life. (hide)

A practical little walk guide to Northumbria endorsed by the Ramblers. All of the 20 walks are 5 miles or under in length and can (read more)

A practical little walk guide to Northumbria endorsed by the Ramblers. All of the 20 walks are 5 miles or under in length and can easily be completed in less than 3 hours. Clear Ordnance Survey maps show the route, along with easy-to-follow walk descriptions.

Northumbria offers diverse landscapes: the scenic North Sea Coast with its diverse wildlife, the bare moorland landscape of the Cheviot Hills and the historical interest of Hadrian's Wall lying along the Whin Sill. Many of the walks are located within the Northumberland National Park and the Northumberland Coast which is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This guide, produced in co-operation with the Ramblers and featuring Ordnance Survey mapping, is the perfect way to get out and enjoy the stunning scenery.
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